Could you explain what an IOException exception means in programming?

IOException is a checked exception in Java that signals input/output (I/O) problems. It occurs during errors related to reading or writing data, such as working with files, network connections, or streams.

Examples of situations causing IOException:

• File not found or inaccessible for reading/writing
• Error while reading from the network
• Interruption of input/output stream

Example of handling IOException:

try {
    FileReader reader = new FileReader("file.txt");
    int data = reader.read();
    reader.close();
} catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace(); // handle input/output error
}

Handling IOException is mandatory because it is a checked exception, and the compiler requires either handling it or declaring it in the method signature.